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The GLJHL joined USA Hockey for the 2008/2009 season as a Tier III Junior C league.

The Erie Lakers folded before playing any games. The rest of the season was more successful.

The league sent two teams to the USA Hockey 2009 Tier-III Junior Nationals, the Illinois Frontenacs and Chicago Huskies. The teams competed in different divisions of the Junior C competition amongst 6 other teams and met in the semi-finals. Ultimately, the Chicago Huskies became the Tier-III Junior C National Champions, winning over the Atlanta Knights from the SEJHL.

Dan Esdale, Vice President of USA Hockey and Chairman of the Junior Council in the trophy presentation said “this is a new milestone, something never done before that a new league in it’s first year of operation, came into the National Tournament with two representatives, both teams ending up in the semi’s against each other, one moving to the finals and winning the National Title”.[1]

This greatly helped the GLJHL application for a Junior B status. It was granted Junior B status 4 Months after the league started in January 2009.[2]

In 2012, the league voted to break away from USA Hockey and join the Amateur Athletic Union. In response, eight GLJHL teams left to join the Minnesota Junior Hockey League as a Great Lakes Division. Under much scrutiny,[4] it then was decided to become an inline hockey league. Since announcing it would be an inline hockey league, it changed its name to Great Lakes Inline Hockey League in 2014. They also announced games were to be held at the Motor City Chiefs home rink, the Canfield Ice Arena, and in Shelby Township, Michigan at the New Rink.[5] However, the league has appeared to cease operations in 2015.